Concession policy criticised as 'opening floodgates for corruption'
Ministry says concessions are empowerment tool
A public consultation in Swakopmund last Friday over Namibia’s revised concession policy became contentious as operators and residents warned that the framework could “open the floodgates for corruption”, turning concessions into a land-based version of "Fishrot”.
The two presiding officials from the environment and tourism ministry, Fabiola Katamila and Mukono Kamwi, said the meeting was intended only to gather comments on the draft.
But the session soon spiralled, becoming confrontational as interested and affected parties accused the ministry of veiled intentions, poor communication and pushing a policy that could enable politically connected groups to capture access rights to coastal conservation areas such as the Dorob National Park, Dune 7 and Sandwich Harbour.
Katamila, who is the concession unit control warden, said the 2007 policy was under review and that the new draft remained “a working document”.
She noted that more than 60 concessions had been awarded to date under the current system and said the revision aimed to align the policy with newer laws and definitions.
Distrust amid questions
But many in the audience made it clear from the start that they did not trust the process.
“To even entertain this whole concession thing is opening the floodgates for huge corruption,” one operator said.
“The policy should include that all concessions are publicly available. We shouldn’t follow the same route as the Fishrot, where nobody knows who gets what quota or concession,” a fisheries official warned, reiterating: “Do not start a second Fishrot with concessions by giving concessions, like the fishing quotas, to people who cannot manage them.”
It was noted that Dorob Park is unlike other parks because three towns – Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – existed there before the park was proclaimed.
Operators argued that copy-and-paste concessions from other parks cannot work in Dorob given its history and the long-established activities predating its declaration.
Katamila and Kamwi argued that tension in the room was fuelled by a social-media notice circulated before the meeting, describing it as “some sort of campaign to derail this meeting and create chaos.”
Attendees pushed back, saying they received no formal notice from the ministry and that Facebook and WhatsApp posts were the only reason they knew the consultation was happening.
Intentions of policy disputed
Another repeatedly raised concern was the way the draft policy framed concessions as a means to empower previously disadvantaged Namibians (PDNs).
Several operators said they feared this language would be used to justify reallocating long-established routes and businesses under the banner of empowerment, regardless of whether it genuinely benefited disadvantaged communities.
They warned that the approach mirrored the fisheries sector, where empowerment language was used to mask patronage and insider allocations.
Others cautioned that the policy risked turning empowerment into a political tool that could be used to favour connected individuals at the expense of legitimate operators and grassroots beneficiaries.
Questions also centred on a proposed concessions committee and an independent evaluation committee. Residents demanded clarity on who appoints them, who sits on them and who they report to.
“What is this committee? Where is it situated? And who is deciding on the content?” one resident asked, while another questioned why only line ministries were represented, arguing that independent environmental bodies should be included.
Fears raised
Long-established operators said they recently awoke to find routes and businesses they built up over decades, before Dorob Park was proclaimed, suddenly advertised for public tender, despite having legitimate permissions and permits in place.
Kamwi countered that long-term operators cannot claim permanent ownership over routes inside a national park.
He said the state can open them to new bidders in the public interest and in the name of “equal opportunity”.
“This is a national asset. It is not for one person to make money for thirty, for fifty years or more,” he said, adding that concessions do not automatically exclude others and that routes remain open to all unless specifically restricted.
A representative from the Swakopmund Residents Association said the town’s tourism success was built over decades by operators who could now be displaced.
“We as a town can’t lose this business,” he said.
Residents also asked whether ordinary Namibians would face new restrictions as more areas fall under concessions.
They raised concerns about entering Sandwich Harbour on foot, walking dogs or using recreational areas without being required to pay.
New approach recommended
Several attendees said Dorob must remain accessible to the public, not treated as a series of closed-off commercial zones. By the end of the meeting, many demanded that the ministry pause the review.
“We need to go back to the drawing board,” a business chamber representative said, while others warned that unless the ministry "fixes" the process, the concessions framework risks becoming the next "captured system".
It was suggested that a public meeting be held with senior tourism ministry officials to discuss concessions in the Dorob Park after Katamila repeatedly said: “We are here to discuss changes to the concession policy and not concessions.”
The two presiding officials from the environment and tourism ministry, Fabiola Katamila and Mukono Kamwi, said the meeting was intended only to gather comments on the draft.
But the session soon spiralled, becoming confrontational as interested and affected parties accused the ministry of veiled intentions, poor communication and pushing a policy that could enable politically connected groups to capture access rights to coastal conservation areas such as the Dorob National Park, Dune 7 and Sandwich Harbour.
Katamila, who is the concession unit control warden, said the 2007 policy was under review and that the new draft remained “a working document”.
She noted that more than 60 concessions had been awarded to date under the current system and said the revision aimed to align the policy with newer laws and definitions.
Distrust amid questions
But many in the audience made it clear from the start that they did not trust the process.
“To even entertain this whole concession thing is opening the floodgates for huge corruption,” one operator said.
“The policy should include that all concessions are publicly available. We shouldn’t follow the same route as the Fishrot, where nobody knows who gets what quota or concession,” a fisheries official warned, reiterating: “Do not start a second Fishrot with concessions by giving concessions, like the fishing quotas, to people who cannot manage them.”
It was noted that Dorob Park is unlike other parks because three towns – Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – existed there before the park was proclaimed.
Operators argued that copy-and-paste concessions from other parks cannot work in Dorob given its history and the long-established activities predating its declaration.
Katamila and Kamwi argued that tension in the room was fuelled by a social-media notice circulated before the meeting, describing it as “some sort of campaign to derail this meeting and create chaos.”
Attendees pushed back, saying they received no formal notice from the ministry and that Facebook and WhatsApp posts were the only reason they knew the consultation was happening.
Intentions of policy disputed
Another repeatedly raised concern was the way the draft policy framed concessions as a means to empower previously disadvantaged Namibians (PDNs).
Several operators said they feared this language would be used to justify reallocating long-established routes and businesses under the banner of empowerment, regardless of whether it genuinely benefited disadvantaged communities.
They warned that the approach mirrored the fisheries sector, where empowerment language was used to mask patronage and insider allocations.
Others cautioned that the policy risked turning empowerment into a political tool that could be used to favour connected individuals at the expense of legitimate operators and grassroots beneficiaries.
Questions also centred on a proposed concessions committee and an independent evaluation committee. Residents demanded clarity on who appoints them, who sits on them and who they report to.
“What is this committee? Where is it situated? And who is deciding on the content?” one resident asked, while another questioned why only line ministries were represented, arguing that independent environmental bodies should be included.
Fears raised
Long-established operators said they recently awoke to find routes and businesses they built up over decades, before Dorob Park was proclaimed, suddenly advertised for public tender, despite having legitimate permissions and permits in place.
Kamwi countered that long-term operators cannot claim permanent ownership over routes inside a national park.
He said the state can open them to new bidders in the public interest and in the name of “equal opportunity”.
“This is a national asset. It is not for one person to make money for thirty, for fifty years or more,” he said, adding that concessions do not automatically exclude others and that routes remain open to all unless specifically restricted.
A representative from the Swakopmund Residents Association said the town’s tourism success was built over decades by operators who could now be displaced.
“We as a town can’t lose this business,” he said.
Residents also asked whether ordinary Namibians would face new restrictions as more areas fall under concessions.
They raised concerns about entering Sandwich Harbour on foot, walking dogs or using recreational areas without being required to pay.
New approach recommended
Several attendees said Dorob must remain accessible to the public, not treated as a series of closed-off commercial zones. By the end of the meeting, many demanded that the ministry pause the review.
“We need to go back to the drawing board,” a business chamber representative said, while others warned that unless the ministry "fixes" the process, the concessions framework risks becoming the next "captured system".
It was suggested that a public meeting be held with senior tourism ministry officials to discuss concessions in the Dorob Park after Katamila repeatedly said: “We are here to discuss changes to the concession policy and not concessions.”
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